With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I wanted to take a moment and pay homage to all you wonderful Moms out there. My Mom is a 4′11″ full blooded Italian who never misses a beat. She worked full time at a large high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until she was 80 years old. When I was in high school, and I would go out with friends at night, she would sleep on my bed until I got home. That way, I had to wake her up so I could go to sleep. Better for a Mom to check on the condition of her teenage son, don’t you think? She kept me on the straight and narrow, or at least close to it, and without her support I don’t know that I ever could have convinced my Dad that I could actually make a living by talking on the radio. And I needed his support, since I was flat broke. As for the amazing mother of my children, well, when folks ask me how we raised 3 successful, well educated kids my standard response is, “Cindy did a GREAT job!” And I mean it.

Some of my earliest memories were the car rides I took with my Mom. Bouncing around on the front seat, holding on tight when she hit the brakes. Sort of like my schnauzers do when we go for a drive. Car seats, what car seats? They weren’t invented. Back when we were born, Moms held the new baby on their laps while Dad drove home from the hospital.

Ask any Mom who had kids in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even the early 80’s, what they remember and you’ll laugh at the answers. When I was born it was standard practice for all Moms to be knocked out for the delivery. As for Dad, well, let’s just say that not only was he not in the delivery room but many times our Dads weren’t even in the building. Yep, they were at work.

Is your baby teething? Rub some whiskey on their gums like our Moms did. Most of us from the 50’s thru the 70’s weren’t breastfed, either. It was considered sort of primitive and, obviously, the big food conglomerates knew what formula babies really needed, right? They always have our best interests at heart. Yeah, right. And our kids want to know what’s wrong with us??!!

Moms nowadays use Twitter, Facebook, and their Smartphones to stay in touch with their kids and with each other. Now, pregnant women stay away from sushi, caffeine and hair dye. Back then a whiskey sour and a Kool were considered great ways for pregnant women to relax.

But despite the changing social norms and amazing advances in medical knowledge, one thing remains constant. No one affects your life more than your Mom. Her unconditional love and support can help you reach whatever goals you hold. Then again, she can also be the reason that you have a standing appointment with a therapist. Either way, there’s no one like Mom.